p.5
Living Conditions at Construction Sites
What was the initial living situation for the workers at the construction site?
Initially, the workers slept on the bare ground, then on makeshift sawhorses and paneling, and eventually on a floor made of boards in a tent.
p.9
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What frustrations did workers face when trying to buy necessary items?
Workers found empty shelves in the worker's co-op and faced high prices from profiteers at the market, leading to outrage and dissatisfaction.
p.15
Peasant Resistance to Collectivization
What did the peasant from Dabuzha in Kaluga Okrug express about the grain collection by authorities?
He stated that they strip the grain from everyone without exception, regardless of whether the peasant has a surplus or not, taking away essential supplies for the household.
p.7
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
How did the economic situation in the country worsen during the late 1920s?
The worsening economic situation was marked by increased shortages, rationing, closure of private stores, and a rise in black market speculation.
p.1
Collectivization of Agriculture
What was the official propaganda term used to describe the collectivization of agriculture?
Full-scale socialist offensive on all fronts
p.5
Living Conditions at Construction Sites
What challenges did the young Leningrad worker face upon arriving at Magnitogorsk?
The worker faced poor accommodations, inadequate food, lack of work by specialty, and harsh living conditions including cold weather and leaking tents.
p.9
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What evidence is there of growing social resentment among workers?
Archival sources show thousands of appeals to authorities about food difficulties, poor meals in cafeterias, and incidents of unrest, including 'women's riots.'
p.15
Class Struggle and Rhetoric
What slogan did the leadership use in 1918 and 1919 to gain the trust of the peasants?
The slogan was: 'factories and plants to the workers, all the land without payment to those who reap.'
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What type of literature did Soviet historians create regarding socialist competition?
A large corpus of literature about work achievements, heroism, and worker self-sacrifice during the first Five-Year Plans.
p.11
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What was the term 'shirpotreb' used to describe in the 1930s?
It referred to merchandise produced for mass consumption, which acquired a pejorative connotation for being of inferior quality.
p.3
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What example did Voronin provide to counter the doubts about the quality of the construction?
Voronin mentioned the reinforced concrete bridge at Poganka Brook, which settled only one thousandth of a meter after a locomotive stood on it for six hours, demonstrating the quality of their work.
p.10
Health and Sanitation Issues
What health issue is mentioned in the text as a result of poor living conditions?
There is a massive outbreak of spotted fever due to hunger and filth.
p.9
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What metaphor did worker B. N. Kniazev use to describe the working class?
He compared the working class to a horse that has been driven too hard, indicating their exhaustion and dissatisfaction.
p.3
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What was the purpose of the Turkestan-Siberian Line as discussed in A. N. Voronin's speech?
The purpose was to build a railroad to connect Turkestan and Siberia, with an allocated budget of approximately two hundred million rubles.
p.10
Living Conditions at Construction Sites
What are the living conditions described in the anonymous letter from Aktyubinsk?
The letter describes a lack of basic necessities, with only black bread distributed and prices at the market reflecting those of 1919 and 1920.
p.5
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the overall sentiment of the young worker about life at the construction site?
The worker felt trapped and expressed a strong desire to return to Leningrad due to the impossible living and working conditions.
p.11
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What issues arose from the influx of rural dwellers into cities during the collectivization efforts?
The influx aggravated shortages in retail trade, eating establishments, and consumer services, leading to a need for state-run institutions to address everyday needs.
p.9
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the condition of workers' families regarding food and clothing during this period?
Workers and their families received very little food, with only the worker receiving rations, while their wives and children received nothing. They wore worn-out clothes, and children were often in rags.
p.5
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What did the workers threaten if their conditions did not improve by June 10?
They threatened to void their agreement if they were not given work by trade, temporary housing, and overalls by that date.
p.1
Class Struggle and Rhetoric
What metaphor did N. I. Bukharin and others use during the NEP that was eclipsed by more aggressive rhetoric?
Growing into socialism (vrastanie)
p.4
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What did Gelman identify as a reason for workers opposing competition?
He pointed out that competition ran counter to the requirements of modern industrial production, which favored steady pace, monotony, and precision.
p.11
Class Struggle and Rhetoric
What did worker Cherkasov express about the influx of peasants in Moscow?
He described them as drunkards, crooks, and thieves, suggesting they would hinder the building of socialism.
p.7
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What behaviors did people exhibit in response to the economic hardships?
People engaged in speculation, falsified records, and exhibited desperation in obtaining goods, reflecting their habitual behavior amidst deprivations.
p.3
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What criticism did G. B. Gelman express regarding management at the textile factory?
Gelman criticized management for not paying enough attention to the problems of competition.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
According to Kuibyshev, what do socialist competition and shock brigades aim to combat?
They aim to combat the petty bourgeois psychology still present in certain strata of the working class.
p.6
Living Conditions at Construction Sites
How much living space was allotted to each person in workers' temporary housing?
Each person was allotted less than one square meter of living space.
p.11
Peasant Resistance to Collectivization
How did workers perceive peasants migrating to industrial work sites?
Workers often regarded peasants as parasites and unfit for building socialism, blaming them for increasing difficulties.
p.9
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
How did the mentality of the time reflect on the approach to solving problems?
There was a belief that all problems could be solved through administrative and punitive measures, as indicated by the demand for 'the right person to put pressure in the right place.'
p.4
Class Struggle and Rhetoric
What incident occurred involving a shock worker in the dyeing division?
A shock worker fell into the machine and was not helped by a nearby worker, who turned out to be a well-to-do kulak.
p.1
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What movement was declared a main form of socialist competition in factories and among workers?
Shock worker and shock brigade movement
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What incident occurred at Mostorg's Store no. 5 on July 23?
Customers beat a woman clerk mercilessly, and another clerk was so badly beaten that she required water to recover.
p.7
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the role of 'promotees' like Tarasov in reporting supply situations?
Promotees reported on supply situations, highlighting the disparity between markets and the struggles faced by workers.
p.11
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What did L. P. Koniukhov's letter reveal about the attitudes of young workers towards peasants?
It highlighted a new variety of anti-Semitism, with derogatory terms used to belittle peasants working in the plants, reflecting a division between workers and peasants.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What titles were associated with the movement promoting socialist competition and shock brigades?
"A New Man Is Being Born" and "A New Society Is Being Forged."
p.4
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the impact of competition on labor productivity according to the workers of the dyeing division?
The workers changed from one type of jigger to another, raising labor productivity by more than 100 percent.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What demographic made up more than 30 percent of the participants at the First Congress of Shock Brigades?
People under age twenty-two.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What was the spirit of collective shock work reminiscent of?
The working traditions of the Russian peasant commune (obshchina) and the artel.
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What tendency is observed in the Soviet state market regarding goods?
There is a tendency to remove any sort of goods from the market quickly, leading to chaotic buying behavior among consumers.
p.14
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What do the authors suggest about the collection of scrap metal and rags?
They suggest that collecting scrap metal and rags is akin to begging alms from workers, rather than providing for them.
p.7
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What was the impact of unrealistic economic decisions on construction projects?
Economically unfounded decisions led to plans falling apart, confusion, and destructive consequences for the entire economy.
p.5
Living Conditions at Construction Sites
How did the worker describe the food situation at the cafeteria?
The worker described the cafeteria food as poor quality and expensive, leading them to go hungry.
p.6
Health and Sanitation Issues
What did the People's Commissariat of Health report about morbidity in 1931?
They noted that morbidity had increased from the previous year, with typhoid fever rising by 64%, typhus doubling, and smallpox tripling.
p.6
Health and Sanitation Issues
What issues were reported in the infirmaries at temporary living quarters?
Infirmaries were cold, filthy, and infested with bedbugs and lice, with inadequate supplies for sick individuals.
p.10
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What metaphor is used to describe the burden on the working class in the text?
The working class is compared to a cart loaded with a hundred poods that cannot move, despite being whipped to work harder.
p.5
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the response of the workers regarding their work conditions?
The workers raised a fuss and requested to annul their agreement due to lack of work by trade and poor living conditions.
p.15
Crisis of the New Economic Policy (NEP)
What was Stalin's stance on the 'excesses' in the kolkhoz movement as mentioned in his article 'Dizzy from Success'?
Stalin condemned the 'excesses' and blamed local officials for them, but the documents indicate that these excesses continued despite his condemnation.
p.15
Collectivization of Agriculture
What economic compulsion method was applied to force independent peasants into collective farms?
A method termed 'extra-hard assignments' was applied, which imposed extremely heavy burdens on private peasant farms.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What was one of the main purposes of forming shock brigades?
To eliminate hitches in production.
p.4
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the general sentiment towards those who objected to shock work?
Soviet publications did not include their arguments and often labeled them as 'whiners and those of little faith.'
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What happens to store shelves when men's winter shoes are tossed onto the market?
The shelves are quickly emptied as women buy multiple pairs, creating a scene reminiscent of a fire cleaning the shelves.
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What complaints did workers express regarding food prices in 1931?
Workers complained about increased prices for food and essential items, as well as higher prices at worker cafeterias.
p.14
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
How do the authors perceive the Komsomol members?
They view Komsomol members as 'dumbbells and sheep' who do not understand the struggles of the workers and peasants.
p.14
Peasant Resistance to Collectivization
What do the authors imply about the respect shown to poor peasants?
They imply that the respect shown to poor peasants is ironic, as they are the ones suffering the most under the current regime.
p.3
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
How did the workers plan to shorten the construction time of the Turkestan-Siberian Line?
The workers decided to complete the construction in 3.5 years instead of the planned five years, shortening it by eighteen months.
p.10
Crisis of the New Economic Policy (NEP)
What happened to restaurants and other service providers as a result of government policies?
They closed shop because they could not meet their burden after the liquidation of private tradesmen.
p.4
Crisis of the New Economic Policy (NEP)
What was the attitude of workers towards competition as described in the document?
Workers expressed concerns about competition leading to reduced labor costs, tighter work schedules, and increased physical intensity of work.
p.4
Peasant Resistance to Collectivization
Who did Gelman refer to as one of the 'enemies' of competition?
He referred to a 'former kulak' who had managed to find work in a factory.
p.7
Health and Sanitation Issues
What were some of the health issues faced by workers at Soviet construction sites?
Mass outbreaks of venereal disease and widespread tuberculosis were reported among workers.
p.10
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What does Worker P. Skatov express about the lectures on religion?
He expresses disdain for the lectures, stating that workers have learned to speak better than to do their work.
p.10
Peasant Resistance to Collectivization
What complaint does the anonymous letter from Aktyubinsk raise regarding local authorities?
It questions the right of local authorities to forcibly take away the only cow of industrial and office workers.
p.6
Health and Sanitation Issues
What were the sanitary conditions like at construction sites during the First Five-Year Plan?
Sanitary conditions sharply deteriorated, with increased morbidity rates, unsanitary living conditions, and inadequate hygiene practices.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
How did the press contribute to the notion of competition during this movement?
By fanning the idea of competition as a holiday and parade.
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What extreme actions have customers taken in stores due to the scarcity of goods?
Customers have broken store windows and knocked down metal barriers, leading to dangerous crushes in stores.
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What issue was reported in the worker settlement of Vindrei in Mordovia?
The settlement was forgotten by the trade department and consumer cooperative, particularly affecting the Vindrei Sawmill.
p.3
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What achievements did the workers at Gelman's factory report?
They reported about two hundred cases of reduced production costs and voluntary increases in productivity per shift.
p.15
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
How did the peasant woman M. Ye. Bocharnikova describe the state of life for peasants in her letter written in 1932?
She lamented the lack of basic necessities, stating that despite claims of increased production in factories, there was nothing available for the peasants, including cereals, fish, and flour.
p.1
Crisis of the New Economic Policy (NEP)
What did Trotsky refer to as 'the policy of half-shut eyes'?
The application of the term socialist to everything that occurred inside the Soviet Union
p.14
Crisis of the New Economic Policy (NEP)
What criticism do the authors have regarding the five-year plan?
They criticize the urgency of completing the five-year plan in four years, arguing it disregards the immediate needs of the people.
p.2
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What was the old rule that socialist competition and shock brigades sought to replace?
"Every man for himself and God for everyone."
p.4
Stalin's Consolidation of Power
How did the Soviet government view remarks against competition?
Such remarks were subject to ruthless class-related judgment and considered intrigues of secret enemies of the Soviet government.
p.1
Socialist Competition and Shock Brigades
What was the chief task of shock brigades according to V. V. Kuibyshev?
To create a new type of worker
p.6
Health and Sanitation Issues
What was the response of site directors regarding mass epidemics?
Instances of mass epidemics were concealed by site directors.
p.14
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What do the authors of the letters express about the living conditions of the proletariat and peasantry?
They express that the proletariat and peasantry are suffering, with children starving and nothing to feed them, while being oppressed by the government.
p.8
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What was the reaction of workers at the Moscow Electro-Plant regarding cafeteria prices?
Workers expressed anger over the price increase from thirty-seven to fifty-five kopecks, feeling exploited for every meal.
p.14
Social Discontent and Economic Hardships
What do the authors claim about the government's treatment of workers and peasants?
They claim that the government commits acts of violence against workers and peasants, enslaving them worse than the tsar.
p.14
Impact of Industrialization on Workers
What sentiment do the authors express towards the wealth inherited from capitalists?
They question where the inherited wealth has gone, expressing frustration that even poor peasants are struggling to survive.
